Toolong

Thanks for that interesting account of your preferred way of navigating the bureaucratic highways & byways, Rough Diamond. All I can say is.....yes, it makes sense if circumstances somewhat demand it and you can do it (ie, can afford to) and I assume that you can, and I do actually envy you and would do the same if I could. If, in the future, things necessitated me using that option, I might go for it, temporarily. By the way, your 'hand holder' sounds very efficient & competent! 👍

Will do. Thanks again. 👍

Rough Diamond, what you're saying is very, very interesting and includes points I wasn't aware of, so I do appreciate your post and thank you for sending it. My thoughts at this stage, from the valuable info I've learned today so far, are basically that it would either be best to open an account with Kasikorn Bank (1 year statement available the same day), or stick with Bangkok Bank but use the 2x 6-monthly statements. 👍🙏

Ahh....thanks Mike. Assuming KannikaP is right (I'm sure he or she is!), then that answers the query I posted to you a moment ago! 😉

Thanks, flexomike, for pointing that out. But does it matter which system you use? If I'm using the 800k in bank option, can I not do the 6-month statement x2 option? 🤔

Thanks, KannikaP. 👍 It IS an option, and one I only learned about today. I'm thankful for you and others for pointing it out. Very useful to know! 🙏

Thanks, DrJack. 👍 I will head down to local Kasikorn Bank after this long weekend, with Thai wife, giving them my best smile! Interesting that you confirm flexomike's option of doing a 6-month statement x2 from Bangkok Bank. Probably will go with the Kasikorn option, though. Sounds like less hassle overall, down the line. Thanks for advice to move money only after the 3 month period. It plays by their rules. And also pointing out that it could be limited to 400k at first. Followed by other 400k at least 2 months before applying to renew the extension. Much obliged to you DrJack, for your help. 🙏

But isn't the 6-month statement no longer considered valid by immgration, 6 months after being issued? I really don't know, flexomike. It would definitely be an option for me if immigration allow it!

Thanks for that info', DrJack. Frustrating for me to hear that only Bangkok Bank can't provide a 1 year statement on the spot. Both of my two accounts are with BB! That is a drag. Apparently.....as far as I know..... the first time application for a retirement visa/extension (I want to change from marriage to retirement) can be a 2 month statement, with the 1 year statement being required for subsequent extensions. So maybe I can open an account with Kasikorn, but change to retirement using my BB account, leave it in for 3 months, then move the money into the Kasikorn account, allowing me to get a 1 year statement the same day, without having to wait. DrJack, may I humbly ask you for your opinion on that possible plan? PS: Before going to the local branch, are Kasikorn foreigner friendly? Can a falang like me ( retired, no work permit) open an account without too much hassle? Any help appreciated. 👍

Thanks for that confirmation. 🙏 Allowing that to be the case is very helpful on the part of immigration. I'm glad they realize that it's sensible policy. 👍

Great! Good to have that confirmed, thanks! 👍

Upnotover, may I ask you a quick question about the full year bank statement requirement? Am I right in thinking that it takes a number of days to get the statement (at my BB at least), and that, when issued, it is then valid for 7 days, meaning that immigration will accept it at any time within the 7 day period? PS, I will use the 800k method, not monthly payments. Cheers.

I get what you're saying, Sunny, and your reasons for contesting my view of it. Fair enough. I don't hate Trump, btw. Baffled by him and many of his actions, but don't hate. Forgive me, but off the tariffs for a moment, I took the same view of many wary of Trump that he'd at least keep his promise to end the two big conflicts. Russia/Ukraine? Better than Biden. But allowing Isr**l to resume their genocide? He's just AIPAC's man, certainly not his own. His cred's blown. Shameful. Eternally shameful.....imo. Anyway....have a good weekend, Sunny, down there in Bkk.

'Lay person' or otherwise, Tug (and to be so or not isn't subject to any judgement on my part, I assure you), I reckon you've proved you've little real need for any 'expert advice' at all, by how you distill the deliberately distracting, "apparent" complexities down to an essence which any unbiased expert would confirm is in total accord with the reality (and your own suspicions) that the working class are gonna be bending over and taking what they've always taken. In this case however.....one isn't just talking about US workers, or US economy. It's a bucket of turds thrown down so many other wells we all drink from, worldwide. (And btw, isn't the US congress the only body that can constitutionally enact such moves?..... stinky stuff.) But anyway, agree with you Tug.

The 'bystander' quoted nails it. Will credit him/her as showing profound wisdom, though at the same time he or she merely states the bleedin' obvious. Was down in Pattaya a while ago on a very, very rare visit and god, I needed the break. Sitting in cafe....at 3pm.... just about where this incident appears to have occurred, with my back to the road outside. Heard very loud commotion behind me as two falang fellas seemed to get into heated bust-up. My Thai family seated with me got all excited and watched it all with fascination, but I just felt despair, not bothering to turn around, wondering exactly the same thing as the 'bystander'. (I assume tourists involved, as both parties had families, who respectively screamed like mad at the two to quit it....which they eventually did. But I thought, sadly, of how it may have ruined their holidays.)

Well said. 👍

An old arabian saying : 'Beware the sanctimonoius, for beneath is boiling dirt'. It's a tattoo ffs. A body-art image of what history & culture calls 'the Buddha'. I humbly & kindly assure those that call this tattoo somehow a violation of......'something', that...the profound truths of what we call Buddhism are just fine thanks, in unmoved, calm repose....and do not feel they have been touched inappropriately or disturbed by the absurd folly going on here.

Excellent thread for me to check out. Just what I need! Once again, thanks!

I'll be using the money in bank method. 800k. By now well-seasoned. 👍 Good to know about wife being required to attend when change is made. (I'd probably take her anyway, as she likes the grub at The Mall in Korat town!) Thanks! 🙏

Well, DrJack, I really have to thank you most heartily for that marvellously detailed & thorough breakdown of what these terms mean. Re the Non OA, it's a great deal more complex than I imagined! Yes, I can see why the Non OA might have once been 'a ripper' visa. Shame they changed the rules. But anyway they did and a Non -O extension switch from marriage to retirement is my intended course of action. I actually felt like a bit of an ignorant so & so enquiring what the difference was between non oa and non o, as I've been here long enough and I ought to know! Maybe until now I just had no real need to know. My brain's overloaded as it is! Once again.....thanks a LOT, DrJack! 🙏🙏

Edward (or anyone), I should by now know this, but I don't...so could you just tell me exactly what the difference is between a NON - O-A, and a NON -O ?

I very much appreciate your reply and help re this, DrJack54! Cheers! 👍

Well, surprise, surprise.....I got that wrong! Wouldn't be the first time! 😉 I'm glad I DID get it wrong, as I feel more like I'll now get my money's worth spending the 2000 baht change fee. Great news! And thanks for the advice about not applying (too) early. 👍 Much appreciated, Upnotover, Thanks. 🙏

Sorry for slow reply. Ah....that's interesting, regarding what you say about extension start date being from date of application (the day I change). And I'm assuming it will expire on the same date the 12 month marriage ext. was originally set to expire. It would make sense. (Though if I'm wrong about that, I would welcome any correction.) Thanks very much meanwhile, for the solid info'! 👍🙏

The statements I had just got from bank for marriage ext. were actually 3 months, so if we had known about 2 month ret. ext option BEFORE already submitting the marriage docs & paying, we would have and he'd maybe be ok with that, as you say. But one of those things. A lesson learned! 😉